Apparatus for diverting articles from a path of travel

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for diverting severed articles, such as spare ribs, carried on top of another article, such as a hog carcass. A conveyor belt carries the hog carcass along a path of travel with previously severed spare ribs resting thereon. A diverting device is positioned laterally of the spare ribs as the conveyor continuously carries the spare ribs and the hog carcass along their path of travel. An air cylinder is operatively connected to the diverting device. A limit switch detects when the leading edge of the hog carcass and spare ribs are in such a position that the diverting apparatus is opposite the spare ribs, and then activates the air cylinder to move the diverting means to engage and transversely divert the spare ribs from the conveyor and from the hog carcass. Preferably, a holding device bears down on the fat back portion to hold the entire hog carcass, including the belly and fat back portions, from lateral movement on the conveyor during the diversion of the spare ribs therefrom. Means are also provided for receiving the ejected spare ribs.

United States Patent [191 Doerfer et al.

in] 3,739,903 1 June 19, 1973 APPARATUS FOR DIVERTING ARTICLES FROM APATH OF TRAVEL [75] Inventors: Richard F. Doerfer, Waterloo;

Homer N. Leymaster, Cedar Falls; Richard R. Neebel, Waterloo, all ofIowa [73} Assignee: Doerfer Corporation, Cedar Falls, Iowa 22 Filed:Sept. 9, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 178,915

7 Primary ExaminerEdward A. Sroka Attorney-James V. Callahen andMolinare, Allegretti [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for diverting severedarticles, such as spare ribs, carried on top of another article, such asa hog carcass. A conveyor belt carries the hog carcass along a path oftravel with previously severed spare ribs resting thereon. A divertingdevice is positioned laterally of the spare ribs as the conveyorcontinuously carries the spare ribs and the hog carcass along their pathof travel. An air cylinder is operatively connected to the divertingdevice. A limit switch detects when the leading edge of the hog carcassand spare ribs are in such a position that the diverting apparatus isopposite the spare ribs, and then activates the air cylinder to move thediverting means to engage and transversely divert the spare ribs fromthe conveyorand from the hog carcass. Preferably, a holding device bearsdown on the fat back portion to hold the entire hog carcass, includingthe belly and fat back portions, from lateral movement on the conveyorduring the diversion of the spare ribs therefrom. Means are alsoprovided for receiving the ejected spare ribs.

13 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PAIENIEB 3739.903

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w mm a QM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thisinvention relates to an apparatus for diverting articles from a path oftravel and it particularly relates to apparatus for diverting orejecting spare ribs after they have been severed from the belly portionsof hog carcasses and remain in a rest position thereon.

2. Description of the Prior Art Apparatus is known wherein pork or hogsides are automatically butchered. One such device is shown in Vogt etal. U.S. Pat. No. 3,159,869. Also, Neebel et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,546,737illustrates a loin pulling and rib cutting machine.

With respect particularly to the apparatus shown in U.S. Pat. No.3,546,737, following the removal or pulling of the ribs from the porkbelly, no provision is made therein for automatically ejecting orremoving the severed spare ribs from a rest position on top of the bellyportion of the hog carcass. This patent disclosed only that an operatorcould be located at the discharge end of the machine to lift the ribsfrom the remaining portion of the hog side and then the ribs could beplaced on a separate conveyor or in a container.

From the standpoint of economy, it would clearly be highly desirable toprovide equipment for diverting or ejecting the severed spare ribs fromthe hog side. How- 'ever, such equipment must satisfy many requirements.

Various types of ejectors or diverting equipment are known for moving ordiverting articles from a path of travel. Ejection equipment needed fordischarging severed spare ribs from hog carcasses and from the conveyorscarrying the carcasses must overcome unique problems.

One of these problems involves the discharge of the spare rib withoutadversely effecting or materially moving the hog side which continues inits preselected path of travel on a moving conveyor for furtherprocessing. For example, the fat back portion of the hog side isnormally severed from the belly portion, the belly normally being usedfor making bacon. A circular saw or the like may be used for thispurpose. Thus, a saw could conveniently be mounted downstream of theunsevered fat back and belly. However, it would be important, forautomatic operation, that the hog belly remain in a fixed transverseposition on the conveyor in order for the severing mechanism to severthe belly from the fat back at the proper separation positiontherebetween. Thus, if the unsevered belly and fat back is movedtransversely, during rib ejection, it may adversely affect thedownstream processing. If too much fat back is left on the belly, thebelly is downgraded and is less valuable. On the other hand, if too muchof the belly portion remains with the fat back, the valuable bellyportion, used for bacon, is less valuable because the price per pound ofthe fat back is significantly less than the price per pound of thebelly.

Such ejecting equipment must also be economically manufactured andeffective in use because, otherwise, it would not be economicallyjustified. Also, any significant movement of the carcass during ejectionnot only could have an adverse affect on later processing, but the movedcarcass could move into a position which could jam the equipment.

SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION It is therefore an important object of thisinvention to provide an apparatus for ejecting a plurality ofsubstantially flat articles resting on top of other articles, as boththe articles are being carried along a preselected path of travel.

It is also an object of this invention to provide apparatus useful forejecting successive spare ribs continuously moving along a path oftravel and resting on an unsevered belly portion of a hog carcass.

It is still another object of this invention to provide spare ribejecting apparatus wherein the spare ribs are ejected from the upperside of a hog carcass without moving the hog carcass laterally in thesame direction as the spare ribs.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a unique sparerib ejecting apparatus, wherein the apparatus is particularlycharacterized by its simplicity and economy of construction, manufactureand operation.

It is also another object of this invention to provide a spare ribejecting apparatus, wherein the ejecting apparatus strikes the lateraledge of the spare ribs only,- while lateral movement of the hog carcassis prevented but longitudinal movement thereof is permitted duringcarriage by the moving conveyor.

Further purposes and objects of this invention will appear as thespecification proceeds. 1

The foregoing objects are accomplished by providing a spare ribdiverting apparatus, also useful for other articles, wherein the spareribs are each detachably resting on the unsevered belly and fat backportions of hog carcasses, a conveyor continuously moves both thecarcassesand the severed spare ribs along a path of travel, a divertingdevice for the spare ribs is located transversely of the moving spareribs, drive means are provided for operating the diverting means, meansare provided for activating the drive means only when the'articles arepositioned substantially opposite the spare ribs and, preferably,aholding device holds the hog carcass from moving laterally on theconveyor while the spare ribs are being diverted transversely from eachcarcass and from the conveyor and while the carcass is permitted tocontinue its longitudinal movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One particular embodiment of thepresent invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of our apparatususeful for diverting or ejecting spare ribs from hog carcassesimmediately following the pulling or severing of the spare ribs from thebelly portion of the carcasses;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed end view of the diverting mechanism forthe spare ribs;

FIG. 4 is a detailed side elevational view of the embodiment of thediverting mechanism shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 2,showing the apparatus used for receiv- DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THEPREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, our ribejecting or diverting apparatus generally 10, includes a conveyorsection, generally 12, a diverting or ejecting section, generally 14,and a receiving section, generally 16. As shown in FIG. 2, two conveyorsections 12 and two diverting sections 14 are used in combination with asingle rib receiving section 16. The conveyor section 12 and thediverting section 14 are substantially mirror images of each other. Thepurpose of having two conveyor sections 12 and two diverting sections 14is that this permits simultaneous operation on left half and right halfsections of a hog carcass. Since the conveyor and diverting sections 12and 14 are mirror images of each other, the description of thosesections hereafter will describe only one ejecting apparatus andconveyor section, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. It is to be understood, ofcourse, that the other of the pair of diverting sections 14 and conveyorsections 12 are constructed precisely the same, in the mirror image ofthe other. It is to be further understood that the described ribejecting apparatus may also be used in connection with the ejection ordiverting of other articles of similar size and shape and similarrelative positions to each other during the ejection operation. Forpurposes of simplicity, the description of the apparatus 10 will berelated to apparatus for ejecting rib sections from hog carcasses.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, a rib cutting or severing apparatus,generally 18, is located immediately upstream of the ejecting apparatus10. The rib severing apparatus 18 separates the spare rib sections SRfrom the bellies B of hog carcass halves, the belly B remainingunsevered from the fat back portion FB thereof. As seen in FIG. 3, theloin sections have already been removed from the fat backs F B and therib severing apparatus 18 has cut the spare ribs SR from the belly B,but the spare ribs SR remain in a rest position on top of the bellysection B of the hog carcass half. The rib severing apparatus 18 may beof the type shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,546,737 or of the type shown inour copending U.S. Patent application Ser. .No. 178,914 filed Sept. 9,1971 and entitled Rib Cutting Apparatus. The rib severing apparatus 18forms no'part of the present invention and no further descriptionthereof will be provided herein.

A frame 20 is provided for supporting the conveyor section 12, thediverting section 14, and the severing apparatus 18. The receivingsection 16 is self supported in between opposite diverting sections 14,as shown best in FIG. 2. The frame 20 includes a plurality of outervertical supports 22 and a plurality of inner vertical supports 24 of areduced height and spaced inwardly of the outer supports 22. The upperends of the vertical supports 22 are interconnected by an overhead crosssupport 26 as shown in FIG. 1. Aligned longitudinal supports 28 rigidlyinterconnect the upper ends of the vertical supports 24 in a positionsubstantially parallel to the center line of the conveyor sections 12.As shown in FIG. 1, the rib severing apparatus 18 is rigidly connectedby suitable means to the overhead supports 26 and 28.

The conveyor section 12 includes an endless slot type conveyor 30, whichis continuously driven by suitable drive means (not shown). The conveyor30 is movably carried and supported along a horizontal elongated path oftravel by an elongated conveyor frame section 32. The frame section 32is supported in the desired vertical position for horizontal movement ofthe endless belt 30 by a plurality of horizontal cross bars 34 which arerigidly connected to and pass between spaced pairs of the verticalsupports '22 and 24, as best shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, theframe section 32 has upper side corner flanges 36 and the endlessconveyor 30 is located substantially flush with the upper portion of theflanges 36 and in close proximity thereto. Any suitable drive means (notshown) may be used for moving the endless conveyor 30 along itshorizontal path of travel and at the desired rate of speed.

The diverting section 14, as best shown in FIG. 3, in cludes anoperating portion 38, and a drive portion 40. The operating portion 38,includes a frame portion 42, which is pivotally mounted to a bracket 44,which, in turn, is rigidly inter-connected to one of the over head crosssupports 26. The frame section 42 includes a tubular upper portion 46,through which a pin member 48 passes. The opposite ends of the pin 48are received in downturned wings 50 and are secured therein by anysuitable means. The frame 42 further includes a normally downwardly andoutwardly angled central frame section 52, which is rigidly connected tothe central portion of a horizontal support member 54 as seen in FIG. 4.A plurality of tubular housings 56 are rigidly secured at their centralportions to the horizontal support section 54. The tubular housingsextend angularly inwardly and downwardly and are positioned inwardlyrelative to the conveyor section 12. The central axis of the centralframe section 52, and the central axis of the tubular housing 56preferably form an angle between and 180 as about As shown best in FIG.5, each tubular housing 56 carries a lower projecting rod 58 therein.Each rod 58 includes a transverse pin 60 with outwardly projecting outerends which ride in spaced slots 62, which are parallel with the axis ofeach housing 56. The pin 60 thereby cooperates with the slots 62 tomaintain the rod 58 within the tubular housing 56 for reciprocal,substantially upright movement therein. The rods 58 are each normallybiased in a downward direction by a compression spring 64 which isreceived in the hollow upper end portions of each of the housings 56.The springs 64 bear against the upper ends of the rods 58 and againstthe lower faces of caps 66 which threadably engage and enclose the openupper ends of the tubular housings 56 so as to maintain the springs 64under compression therein.

As shown in FIG. 3, the springs 64 normally bias the rods 58 to aposition at which the projecting end of 7 each pin 60 engages the lowerend of each of the slots 62. The biased rods permit firm, yet yieldingengagement with the hog carcass and with the ribs.

The lower ends of each of the rods 58 include rib engaging sections 68.Each rib engaging section 68 includes a plow portion 70 having anupwardly tapered end portion 72 for permitting non-interfering receptionof a hog carcass as it slides underneath. The plows 70 are positionedsubstantially parallel to the path of travel of the conveyor section 12.Each rib engaging section 68 further includes inwardly directeddeflector portions 74. These deflector portions 74 assure that the ribsSR will not pivot excessively about their lateral edges, which couldresult in the ribs being ejected improperly to the receiving section 16.As shown in FIG. 3, the rib engaging sections 68, in the operativeposition, are positioned directly opposite and laterally outwardly ofthe rib sections SR as the hog carcasses are carried along their path oftravel by the conveyor section 12. The rib engaging sections 68, arepositioned just above the fat back section PB of the hog carcass, andthey are constructed and arranged to strike the lateral edge of thespare ribs SR with sufficient impact to forcibly eject them to thereceiving section 16.

The drive portion 40 of the diverting section 14 includes a doubleacting air cylinder 76. A bracket 78 is rigidly mounted to the same overhead cross support 26 which carries the bracket 44 that is used to carrythe operating portion 38. The cylinder end of the air cylinder 76 ispivotally carried, at 80, by the bracket 78. The outer end of the aircylinder rod 82 is pivotally interconnected to the central portion ofthe central frame section 52 of the operating portion 38 of thediverting section 14. The double acting air cylinder 76 is connected toa suitable air pressure supply by suitable air line connections (notshown).

In order to assure that the drive portion 40 of the diverting section 14operates to eject or divert spare ribs SR only at the appropriate time,that is, just when the ribs SR are opposite the diverting section 14, alimit switch 84 is mounted at the appropriate position relative to theoperating section 38 to detect the leading edge of the hog carcass,specifically the leading edge of the fat back FB, whereby there isassurance that the spare ribs SR are precisely opposite the rib engagingsections 68 of the operating portion 38, in order that the edges thereofproperly engage the edges of the spare ribs SR. The limit switch'84 ismounted on a bracket 86 which is fixedly secured to the outer elongatedflange 36 of the frame section 32. The bracket 86 is constructed so asto have an inwardly open portion adjacent the conveyor 12 so as topermit the outer edge of the fat back FB to pass therethrough. The limitswitch 84 is mounted to the upper portion of the bracket 86, andincludes a pivoted downwardly extending arm 88. In the vertical downwardposition, the arm 88 is inactive. When the leading edge of the movinghog carcass pivots the arm 88 in an upward direction, the limit switch84 is activated. By suitable means, as by electrical activation of asolenoid valve (not shown), pressurized air enters the cylinder 76 tomove the rod 82 inwardly from the solid line position shown in FIG. 3 tothe dotted line shown in FIG. 3.

The longitudinal location of the limit switch 84 and the arm 88 relativeto the position of the diverting sec tion 14 is quite important in orderto assure that the ribs SR are properly ejected at the proper time.Also, the rib ejection takes place during the continuous longitudinalmovement of the carcass and the spare ribs SR along the conveyor 12.Therefore, the spare ribs SR and carcasses are moving longitudinally asthe diverting section 14 operates transversely to engage and eject orkick off the rib section SR.

The rib ejecting section 14 is designed to engage the outer, cut edge ofthe ribs and is designed to avoid striking the hog carcass itself.Although the diverting section is so designed and the weight of thecarcass should remain transversely stationary, it is preferred that aholding device, generally 90, be provided to assure that the carcassremains in a substantially uniform transverse position during theejection operation. The

holding section includes an elongated narrow, downwardly facing bar 92which is substantially parallel to the path of travel of the conveyorsection 12 and of the hog carcass being carried thereby. The bar 92 issecured at its opposite ends to a pair of upright rods 94 which arereciprocally received within a pair of longitudinally spaced housings96. The housings 96 are constructed substantially in the same manner asthe tubular housings 56 of the operating diverting section 38. Thus, thehousings 96 each are enclosed at their upper ends by caps 66. Biasingsprings, like the spring 64, are contained therein for normally biasingthe bar 92 in a downward direction for positive engagement with the fatback portion FB of the hog carcass, the fat back FB extending laterallyoutwardly of the belly B and spare ribs SR, as shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to NUS. 2 and 3, the upright housings 96 are rigidly securedto a longitudinal support bar 98 which, in turn, is secured to a bracket100 which is fixed to one of the outer vertical upright supports 22. Theleading end of the bar 92 is tapered upwardly so as to assurelongitudinal reception of the fat back FB therebelow. Preferably, thelower edge of the bar 92 is tapered so as to assure positive engagementwith the fat back FB while avoiding any adverse affect thereon. Theholding section 90 is thus preferred to assure uniform lateral positionof the hog carcass on the conveyor during ejection of the ribstherefrom, while permitting longitudinal movement of the carcass. Thisuniform lateral position is particularly important in the event that acircular saw (not shown) or other such severing means is mounteddownstream of the conveyor section 12 for severing the fat back F5 fromthe belly portion B.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 6, and 7, the receiving section 16 includes alongitudinally elongated hopper section 102 which has a plurality oflegs 104 provided thereon. As indicated earlier, the receiving section16 is positioned between the diverting sections 14 so that a singlereceiving section 16 is used for a pair of diverting sections.

In order to avoid interference in the hopper 102 between the spare ribsSR being ejected from the opposite diverting sections into the receivingsection 16, a gating device 106 is mounted longitudinally along thecentral portion of the open upper end of the hopper 102, The gatingdevice 106 is mounted,at its opposite ends to the opposite end walls ofthe hopper 102. A pair of substantially upright rib deflectors 108 arerigidly mounted along the central longitudinal section of the hopper 102for directing ejected ribs downwardly into the hopper 102, one deflector108 being provided for each of the diverting sections 114. A pluralityof aligned fingers l 10 normally enclose the open upper portion of thehopper 102 in the area between each deflector 108 and the lateral sidewalls of the hopper 102. The arms 110 are fixedly secured at their innerends to the rigid pivot bar 112. A pair of counter weights are fixed tothe opposite ends of the pivot bar 112 in orderto normally pivot thepivot bar 112 and the fingers 110 to substantially horizontal, closedposition for preventing the passage of ribs SR downwardly into thehopper. A fixed stop 114 is rigidly mounted on the hopper 102 forengaging an arm 116 fixed to the pivot bar 112 so as to locate thealigned fingers 110, in the desired closed position.

In order to permit only one rib section at a time to pass downwardlyinto the hopper 102, a sequencing device 118 is provided. The sequencingdevice 118 includes a horizontally slidable bar 129 having rollers 122at the outer ends. The bar 120 is slidably mounted on brackets 124 whichare secured to the outside end wall of the hopper 102. The rollers 122each normally engage a pair of wheels 1126 which are coaxially mountedwith the pivot bar 112, a detent position 128 being provided in each ofthe wheels 126. The length of the sliding bar 1 20 is such that theroller on one side may engage thedetent 128 of one of the wheels 126,while the otherroller engages the peripheral outer surface of the otherwheel 126. in this way, one of the pivot bars 1 12 is free to be pivoteddownwardly for permitting a rib section SR to pass into the hopper 102while the other roller 122 in the other detent 128 locks the other pivotbar in the closed position. Thus, after one rib section SR passesdownwardly into the hopper 102, the counterweight 1130 pivots the pivotbar 112 back to the closed position and the weight of another rib in theother set of gating fingers 110 causes the other roller to move out ofthe detent 128 and permits the other rib in the other gating section todrop downwardly into the hopper. Thus, one rib at a time is passed intothe hopper from opposite sides.

Although it is believed that the operation of the described deviceshould be apparent from the foregoing, a description of the operationwill be provided in order to have a more full understanding of theinvention. Following, removal of a loin, and after severing of the spareribs SR from the belly portion B-of a hog carcass by the rib severingapparatus 18, the hog carcass, including the belly B and fat back F8 inan unsevered condition, with the spare ribs SR resting on top of thebelly portion B is moved toward the rib ejecting apparatus 10. Theconveyor section 12 moves the hog carcasses continuously andsuccessively in a longitudinal path of travel, the left half and righthalf sides moving on opposite conveyors. As the carcass moves along itspath of travel by the rib ejector, nothing occurs until the leading edgeof the fat back FB engages the downwardly extending arm 88 of the limitswitch 84. This pivots the limit switch arm 88 upwardly activating aslenoid (not shown) causing pressurized air to enter the air cylinder 76for moving the cylinder from the full line position shown in FIG. 3 tothe dotted line position shown in FIG. 3.

During this movement of the air cylinder 76, the spare ribs SRaresubstantially opposite the rib engaging sections 68 of the operatingportions 38 of the diverting section 14. Also, the holding bar 92 is insliding engagement with the upper surface of the fat back FB for holdingthe hog carcass in a fixed transverse position on the conveyor section12. As the air cylinder 76 activates the operating portion 38, the ribengaging sections 68 engages the outer or severed lateral edge of therib section SR as it is being moved by the conveyor in a longitudinalpath of travel. The ribs SR are forcibly driven from the belly portionB, in the manner shown tion therein, and into position for ejecting thenext rib section SR.

At the receiving section, the ejected rib does not drop irito the hopperuntil such time as the respective roller 122 in the sliding bar 120moves into position in the detent portion 128 to permit the adjacentroller 122 to move out of the adjacent detent 128 permitting the sparerib SR to drop into the hopper 102.

While in the foregoing, there has been provided a detailed descriptionof a particular embodiment of the present invention, it is to beunderstood that all equivalents obvious to those having skill in the artare to be included within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent Is:

1. An apparatus for diverting each of successive substantially flatarticles from a substantially horizontal path of travel, wherein saidsubstantially flat articles are each detachably resting on each of aseries of other articles which are also moving along said path oftravel, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a frame, means onsaid frame for continuously moving said articles in said relativeposition along said path of travel, said other articles resting on topof said moving means and each of substantially flat articles resting oneach of said other articles, means on said frame for diverting each ofsaid substantially flat articles only from on top of said articles in adirection transverse of said path of travel, said diverting meansnormally being mounted laterally of said substantially flat articles,drive means operatively connected to said diverting means, means foractivating said drive means only when said substantially flat articlesare positioned opposite said diverting means, said other articlesremaining in a fixed transverse position relative to the longitudinalpath of travel of said carrying means as said diverting means engage thelateral edge portion of each of said substantially flat articles only todivert said substantially flat articles in a transverse direction fromsaid path of travel, and means for substantially preventing saidsubstantially flat articles from pivoting about their lateral edgesbeyond approximately 90 from the original position.

2. An apparatus for diverting each of successive sub stantially flatarticles from a substantially horizontal path of travel, wherein saidsubstantially flat articles are each detachably resting on each of aseries of other articles which are also moving along said path oftravel, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a frame, means onsaid frame for continuously moving said articles in said relativeposition along said path of travel, said other articles resting on topof said moving means and each of substantially flat articles resting oneach of said other articles, means on said frame for diverting each ofsaid substantially flat articles only from on top of said articles in adirection transverse of said path of travel, said diverting meansnormally being mounted laterally of said substantially flat articles andincluding means for engaging lateral edge portions of said substantiallyflat articles for diverting said substantially flat articles onlywithout movably engaging said other articles whereby said other articlesremain in a substantially fixed position on said moving means, drivemeans of said carrying means as said engaging means engage the lateraledge portionof each of said substantially flat articles only to divertsaid substantially flat articles in a transverse direction from saidpath of travel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for positively holding saidother articles in a substantially fixed transverse position on saidmoving means as said substantially flat articles are being diverted.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for receiving said divertedarticles.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said diverting means are normallypositioned above a portion of said other articles, and in the operativeposition, are positioned laterally of said substantially flat articlesfor forcibly driving substantially flat articles from said otherarticles upon being operated by said activated driving means.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said activating means compriseslimit switch means which is activated as the leading edge of said otherarticles engages said switch means, thereby assuring that said articlesare positioned laterally and opposite of said diverting means.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said articles comprise spare ribsand said other articles comprise unsevered hog bellies and fat backs ofhog carcasses, said spare ribs being located above said belly portions.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said holding means comprises anelongated bar positioned parallel to the longitudinal path of travel ofsaid other articles and engaging a portion of said other articles so asto hold said other articles in a fixed transverse position as saidsubstantially flat articles are be diverted.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said elongated bar has an upwardlytapered leading edge for receiving the leading edge of said otherarticles therebelow, said bar also having a tapered lower edge forpositively engaging said other articles.

10. An apparatus for diverting each of successive substantially flatarticles from a substantially horizontal path of travel, wherein saidsubstantially flat articles are each detachably resting on each of aseries of other articles which are also moving along said path oftravel, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a frame, means onsaid frame for continuously moving said articles in said relativeposition along said path of travel, said other articles resting on topof said moving means and each of substantially flat articles resting oneach of said other articles, a pair of means on said frame for divertingeach of said substantially flat articles only from on top of saidarticles in a direction transverse of said path of travel, saiddiverting means normally being mounted laterally of said substantiallyflat articles, drive means operatively connected to said divertingmeans, means for activating said drive means only when saidsubstantially flat articles are positioned opposite said divertingmeans, said other articles remaining in a fixed transverse positionrelative to the longitudinal path of travel of said carrying means assaid diverting means engage the lateral edge portion of each of saidsubstantially flat articles only to divert said subtive while the otherof said gate means is inoperative.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 including upright deflector means on saidreceiving means to deflect each of said diverted articles downwardly tosaid receiving means.

1. An apparatus for diverting each of successive substantially flatarticles from a substantially horizontal path of travel, wherein saidsubstantially flat articles are each detachably resting on each of aseries of other articles which are also moving along said path oftravel, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a frame, means onsaid frame for continuously moving said articles in said relativeposition along said path of travel, said other articles resting on topof said moving means and each of substantially flat articles resting oneach of said other articles, means on said frame for diverting each ofsaid substantially flat articles only from on top of said articles in adirection transverse of said path of travel, said diverting meansnormally being mounted laterally of said substantially flat articles,drive means operatively connected to said diverting means, means foractivating said drive means only when said substantially flat articlesare positioned opposite said diverting means, said other articlesremaining in a fixed transverse position relative to the longitudinalpath of travel of said carrying means as said diverting means engage thelateral edge portion of each of said substantially flat articles only todivert said substantially flat articles in a transverse direction fromsaid path of travel, and means foR substantially preventing saidsubstantially flat articles from pivoting about their lateral edgesbeyond approximately 90* from the original position.
 2. An apparatus fordiverting each of successive substantially flat articles from asubstantially horizontal path of travel, wherein said substantially flatarticles are each detachably resting on each of a series of otherarticles which are also moving along said path of travel, said apparatuscomprising, in combination, a frame, means on said frame forcontinuously moving said articles in said relative position along saidpath of travel, said other articles resting on top of said moving meansand each of substantially flat articles resting on each of said otherarticles, means on said frame for diverting each of said substantiallyflat articles only from on top of said articles in a directiontransverse of said path of travel, said diverting means normally beingmounted laterally of said substantially flat articles and includingmeans for engaging lateral edge portions of said substantially flatarticles for diverting said substantially flat articles only withoutmovably engaging said other articles whereby said other articles remainin a substantially fixed position on said moving means, drive meansoperatively connected to said diverting means, and means for activatingsaid drive means only when said substantially flat articles arepositioned opposite diverting means, said other articles remaining in afixed transverse position relative to the longitudinal path of travel ofsaid carrying means as said engaging means engage the lateral edgeportionof each of said substantially flat articles only to divert saidsubstantially flat articles in a transverse direction from said path oftravel.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for positivelyholding said other articles in a substantially fixed transverse positionon said moving means as said substantially flat articles are beingdiverted.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for receiving saiddiverted articles.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said divertingmeans are normally positioned above a portion of said other articles,and in the operative position, are positioned laterally of saidsubstantially flat articles for forcibly driving substantially flatarticles from said other articles upon being operated by said activateddriving means.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said activating meanscomprises limit switch means which is activated as the leading edge ofsaid other articles engages said switch means, thereby assuring thatsaid articles are positioned laterally and opposite of said divertingmeans.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said articles comprise spareribs and said other articles comprise unsevered hog bellies and fatbacks of hog carcasses, said spare ribs being located above said bellyportions.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said holding meanscomprises an elongated bar positioned parallel to the longitudinal pathof travel of said other articles and engaging a portion of said otherarticles so as to hold said other articles in a fixed transverseposition as said substantially flat articles are be diverted.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 8 wherein said elongated bar has an upwardly taperedleading edge for receiving the leading edge of said other articlestherebelow, said bar also having a tapered lower edge for positivelyengaging said other articles.
 10. An apparatus for diverting each ofsuccessive substantially flat articles from a substantially horizontalpath of travel, wherein said substantially flat articles are eachdetachably resting on each of a series of other articles which are alsomoving along said path of travel, said apparatus comprising, incombination, a frame, means on said frame for continuously moving saidarticles in said relative position along said path of travel, said otherarticles resting on top of said moving means and each of substantiallyflat articles resting on each Of said other articles, a pair of means onsaid frame for diverting each of said substantially flat articles onlyfrom on top of said articles in a direction transverse of said path oftravel, said diverting means normally being mounted laterally of saidsubstantially flat articles, drive means operatively connected to saiddiverting means, means for activating said drive means only when saidsubstantially flat articles are positioned opposite said divertingmeans, said other articles remaining in a fixed transverse positionrelative to the longitudinal path of travel of said carrying means assaid diverting means engage the lateral edge portion of each of saidsubstantially flat articles only to divert said substantially flatartaicles in a transverse direction from said path of travel, and meanspositioned between each of said diverting means for receiving saiddiverted articles from opposite sides.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10including means for admitting only one substantially flat article at atime to said receiving means.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein saidadmitting means includes a pair of pivoting gate means mounted on eachside of said receiving means for receiving said diverted articles, oneof said gate means being operative while the other of said gate means isinoperative.
 13. The apparatus of claim 10 including upright deflectormeans on said receiving means to deflect each of said diverted articlesdownwardly to said receiving means.